Vanguard

i- wake

© 2016, Strapenski. No part of this may be copied and posted elsewhere. Beautiful cover by Galaxydragon2.

I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be alive. The world around me was a hollow shell of black, and let me tell you, first coming to awareness in a place like this is exactly as terrifying as it sounds. Even more terrifying is coming to terms with Nothingness, and then have a clawed hand grab your shoulder. I tried to jump. I tried to scream. But the signals didn't register with my brain or something because nothing happened. I felt something cold on my neck- oh Hell it's breathing on me- and then I heard a rough grumble in my ear.

"Up you go," it spoke. Somehow, I got the feeling that it was scowling. Another hand grabbed my waist. It started to push me upwards and its grip became hotter and hotter and I can feel it and then-

White.

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A throbbing pain emanated from my heart and veins. With every bray, the strain lessened, though I wouldn't say no to a handful of Ibuprofen (but what's Ibuprofen? I was dead and now I'm-). I inhaled deeply and winced. Should my lungs be hurting like that when I breathe? I heard something- a gasp (too loud after years of Nothing)- and a pair of hands grabbed my shoulders.

"Yusuf! Wake up, dammit! This is all my fault..." I closed my eyes tighter and blinked them open. Surprisingly, the brightness wasn't unbearable. I squinted. A small figure leaned over me, with short dark hair and widened eyes. The instant she noticed I was awake, I was pulled into a bone-crushing hug. Her- and this is only a guess- arms tightened and pulled me off the ground into a half-seated position. Blinking, I looked around. The area was dimly lit, damp, and I could have sworn I was lying down on some kind of array.

I awkwardly pushed the stranger off of me. Her arms and part of her hideous purple shirt were covered with something that definitely wasn't there a moment ago, and oh my God it's blood. It was a dark red that looked and smelled sickening. I tried to push myself up, ignoring the screaming protests of my body, and looked down. I was stained red. The liquid had pooled around me, and though I couldn't feel any open wounds I knew it was mine. My ragged breathing grew heavier and quicker and why is there so much blood I hate blood-

A hand was placed on my shoulder. I whipped around, staring at the stranger with wide eyes. I opened my mouth. My voicebox felt sore and dry, as if it had not been used in a long time.

"W-what-" the one word had sent me into a fit of coughing. The hand squeezed. She looked at me with concern, relief, and just the tiniest hint of guilt?

"Yusuf?" she asked. Her voice was soft, yet every word carried. I breathed in. Breathed out.

"W-who are you?" I asked, and the look of pure, utter despair in the stranger's face was something I'd never forget.

"Yusuf, it's... it's me, Elif." my brows furrowed. For a moment, the only sounds in the room were my ragged breaths. I shook my head.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know... Where am I?" once more, silence reigned. I felt a strange dizziness in my temples. The world in front of me seemed to spin.

"You don't remember, do you?" the stran- Elif asked. I felt a drop of blood run down my forehead, tickling my skin as it fell. I looked down.

"Remember what? I-I don't know you!" shaking my head, I tried to stand up. I briefly winced at the pain that shot through my legs and spine. My entire back was damp with blood. I shook my head again, as if the action might cleanse me. I felt her hand on my shoulder again- did she stand up with me? I shook it off and took a wobbling step back.

"Yusuf, it's me," she said, quieter this time. In some distant corner of my brain, it registered that she was a lot shorter than I was. I quickly scanned the room. A wooden door stood in a corner. Elif's eyes widened. "Yusuf!" I staggered towards the door as quickly as I could, throwing it open and limping outside. The first thing that hit me was the cold- the blood oh my god the blood didn't make it any better. Someone on a bike rushed past, nearly running me over. I backed against the wall and looked around frantically at my surroundings. Small, bright buildings dotted the area. The street was very clean and almost empty save for a couple of cars. My breathing grew faster and faster. I don't know what it was that prompted me to speak what I did next, but it was on the tip of my tongue.

"...For helvede."

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Everyone knows the most terrifying force in the universe is a Danish biker.
Alrighty then. That was my pilot chapter, I suppose. Comments? Reviews? Snide remarks?